Andrew Johnson December 29, 1808 Raleigh, North Carolina- July 31, 1875 Carter County, Tennessee Political party: Pro-Union War Democrat One Term in office: April 15, 1865- March 3, 1869 Vice-President: None Thematic Content
During Andrew Johnson’s presidency the identity of America was changing in the major reconstruction period after the civil war. The ratification of the 13th and 14th amendments, which ended slavery and protected black’s citizenship, like voting, respectively, changed the identity of America. At first the South rejected and ignored these new amendments, and worked hard to keep the freed slaves as a cheap work force in the south, and to keep them from voting. This led to extreme racism that would last for many years in the South. However these new amendments were a step towards equality of all in America. It led to all Americans being equal no matter race or gender, but they were just the first step of a long road for equality.
The purchase of Alaska at the time was just in gratitude to the Russian czar for supporting America. It was not known if it would be beneficial to America, but there were rumors of riches in Alaska. After the purchase Johnson was met with opposition over it because many people did not see the usefulness of Alaska; however now Alaska has become a large part of the American identity. Alaska becomes of great use when it is discovered that it is rich in gold and oil. It also showed its use throughout wars to come after the purchase. Thesis
Andrew Johnson was an inadequate president, who came at a time when a spectacular president was necessary. He only came to be president after Lincoln was assassinated. Before that he was only chosen for Vice-President because of his political party and not for who he was. His only redeeming act was the purchase of Alaska, which he only did to thank the czar of Russia for supporting America. Luckily for America congress was able to use their power to overrule Johnson on multiple occasions. Due to all of this Johnson is deserving of D- and not an F only because of the purchase of Alaska. Goals
During reconstruction Johnson’s goals were to follow the ideas of Lincoln in readmitting the Southern States smoothly and easily based on the idea that they never actually left the union. This goal did not succeed because of the ideas of congress wanting much stricter rules for acceptance back into the Union for the Southern States. Johnson tried to stop congress with vetoes on multiple occasions, but congress used their power of two thirds consensus to overrule Johnson. Johnson also wanted the South to accept blacks as citizens and respect the right to vote of literate blacks. However this goal did not have a chance of success because of the South’s refusal to accept former slaves as equals. The Southern states passed the black codes to keep the blacks from being equal to the whites in the South. Relationship with Congress
Johnson had an atrocious relationship with congress, which was first off shown by the fact that during Johnson’s entire presidency both the House and Senate had a majority of Republicans and Johnson was a Democrat. Even more shocking was the fact that Johnson vetoed 29 bills, and 15 of them congress passed over him with a two thirds vote. This was done so many times because during the entirety of Johnson’s presidency in the House and Senate there was not only a majority, but there was more than two thirds republican which meant most republican bills could be passed even if Johnson vetoed them. Some of the bills passed by congress were major reconstruction bills that changed the path of America. Another major event that showed the terrible relationship with congress was the impeachment of Johnson. After the passing of the Tenure of Office act over Johnson’s head Johnson broke it by firing his Secretary of War, which broke the Tenure of Office act. He was tried for high crimes and misdemeanors, but he was found not guilty by one vote off of a two thirds majority. Positive
Johnson purchased Alaska, which was the only thing positive that he did during his presidency. He only bought Alaska after Russia offered it because the Russian czar supported America and the union and Johnson feared that if he refused a war may be started over it. There were some rumors of riches from furs and other sources in Alaska, but they were just rumors. The value of Alaska was not seen until later in American history and it was not something Johnson could have foreseen. Johnson luckily bought Alaska though and it was one small redeeming quality of Johnson’s presidency. Negative
The most negative act of Johnson was his exercise of his power to veto. This was done 29 times in his time in office and it slowed reconstruction of America significantly. Although congress was able to overrule many of his vetoed bills with a two thirds vote Johnson slowed the reconstruction after the civil war significantly. He vetoed multiple bills to help freed slaves rights and to keep their freedom. Johnson also vetoed bills that ended up being the major process of reconstruction for the South, which required it to be sent back to congress before being passed over him which cause the reconstruction to take even longer and extended the struggle. Future Impact
Johnson’s only impact on the future of America was his purchase of Alaska, which was beneficial in the future, but not at the time. Most of the influential actions that happened during his presidency were done by congress over Johnson and he had no part in it. There was very little Johnson could do because he had no support for congress and he did not agree with the administration that he came into from Abraham Lincoln. Due to this Johnson was not able to very much at all with what he believed even if he would have tried to. Conclusion
Although the union was more together at the end of Johnson’s presidency the nation was not better off than it was before. There was still strong sectionalism over the issue of black’s rights and there were new feelings of extreme racism brewing in the North and South. There were also many state laws being passed that segregated blacks took away their rights like voting. America was also left with weak powers in the government and that would continue. Johnson received a D- because he was president during the time when congress was being partly successful during reconstruction and his purchase of Alaska. Bibliography "Andrew Johnson." The White House. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/andrewjohnson>. "Andrew Johnson." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Mar. 2012. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson>. Degregorio, William A. "Andrew Johnson." Introduction. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. 4th ed. Avenel: Wings, 2006. 247-57. Print. "40th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Mar. 2012. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40th_United_States_Congress>. "Miller Center." American President: Andrew Johnson. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://millercenter.org/president/johnson>. "39th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Mar. 2012. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/39th_United_States_Congress>.
December 29, 1808 Raleigh, North Carolina- July 31, 1875 Carter County, Tennessee
Political party: Pro-Union War Democrat
One Term in office: April 15, 1865- March 3, 1869
Vice-President: None
Thematic Content
During Andrew Johnson’s presidency the identity of America was changing in the major reconstruction period after the civil war. The ratification of the 13th and 14th amendments, which ended slavery and protected black’s citizenship, like voting, respectively, changed the identity of America. At first the South rejected and ignored these new amendments, and worked hard to keep the freed slaves as a cheap work force in the south, and to keep them from voting. This led to extreme racism that would last for many years in the South. However these new amendments were a step towards equality of all in America. It led to all Americans being equal no matter race or gender, but they were just the first step of a long road for equality.
The purchase of Alaska at the time was just in gratitude to the Russian czar for supporting America. It was not known if it would be beneficial to America, but there were rumors of riches in Alaska. After the purchase Johnson was met with opposition over it because many people did not see the usefulness of Alaska; however now Alaska has become a large part of the American identity. Alaska becomes of great use when it is discovered that it is rich in gold and oil. It also showed its use throughout wars to come after the purchase.
Thesis
Andrew Johnson was an inadequate president, who came at a time when a spectacular president was necessary. He only came to be president after Lincoln was assassinated. Before that he was only chosen for Vice-President because of his political party and not for who he was. His only redeeming act was the purchase of Alaska, which he only did to thank the czar of Russia for supporting America. Luckily for America congress was able to use their power to overrule Johnson on multiple occasions. Due to all of this Johnson is deserving of D- and not an F only because of the purchase of Alaska.
Goals
During reconstruction Johnson’s goals were to follow the ideas of Lincoln in readmitting the Southern States smoothly and easily based on the idea that they never actually left the union. This goal did not succeed because of the ideas of congress wanting much stricter rules for acceptance back into the Union for the Southern States. Johnson tried to stop congress with vetoes on multiple occasions, but congress used their power of two thirds consensus to overrule Johnson. Johnson also wanted the South to accept blacks as citizens and respect the right to vote of literate blacks. However this goal did not have a chance of success because of the South’s refusal to accept former slaves as equals. The Southern states passed the black codes to keep the blacks from being equal to the whites in the South.
Relationship with Congress
Johnson had an atrocious relationship with congress, which was first off shown by the fact that during Johnson’s entire presidency both the House and Senate had a majority of Republicans and Johnson was a Democrat. Even more shocking was the fact that Johnson vetoed 29 bills, and 15 of them congress passed over him with a two thirds vote. This was done so many times because during the entirety of Johnson’s presidency in the House and Senate there was not only a majority, but there was more than two thirds republican which meant most republican bills could be passed even if Johnson vetoed them. Some of the bills passed by congress were major reconstruction bills that changed the path of America. Another major event that showed the terrible relationship with congress was the impeachment of Johnson. After the passing of the Tenure of Office act over Johnson’s head Johnson broke it by firing his Secretary of War, which broke the Tenure of Office act. He was tried for high crimes and misdemeanors, but he was found not guilty by one vote off of a two thirds majority.
Positive
Johnson purchased Alaska, which was the only thing positive that he did during his presidency. He only bought Alaska after Russia offered it because the Russian czar supported America and the union and Johnson feared that if he refused a war may be started over it. There were some rumors of riches from furs and other sources in Alaska, but they were just rumors. The value of Alaska was not seen until later in American history and it was not something Johnson could have foreseen. Johnson luckily bought Alaska though and it was one small redeeming quality of Johnson’s presidency.
Negative
The most negative act of Johnson was his exercise of his power to veto. This was done 29 times in his time in office and it slowed reconstruction of America significantly. Although congress was able to overrule many of his vetoed bills with a two thirds vote Johnson slowed the reconstruction after the civil war significantly. He vetoed multiple bills to help freed slaves rights and to keep their freedom. Johnson also vetoed bills that ended up being the major process of reconstruction for the South, which required it to be sent back to congress before being passed over him which cause the reconstruction to take even longer and extended the struggle.
Future Impact
Johnson’s only impact on the future of America was his purchase of Alaska, which was beneficial in the future, but not at the time. Most of the influential actions that happened during his presidency were done by congress over Johnson and he had no part in it. There was very little Johnson could do because he had no support for congress and he did not agree with the administration that he came into from Abraham Lincoln. Due to this Johnson was not able to very much at all with what he believed even if he would have tried to.
Conclusion
Although the union was more together at the end of Johnson’s presidency the nation was not better off than it was before. There was still strong sectionalism over the issue of black’s rights and there were new feelings of extreme racism brewing in the North and South. There were also many state laws being passed that segregated blacks took away their rights like voting. America was also left with weak powers in the government and that would continue. Johnson received a D- because he was president during the time when congress was being partly successful during reconstruction and his purchase of Alaska.
Bibliography
"Andrew Johnson." The White House. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/andrewjohnson>.
"Andrew Johnson." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Mar. 2012. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson>.
Degregorio, William A. "Andrew Johnson." Introduction. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. 4th ed. Avenel: Wings, 2006. 247-57. Print.
"40th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Mar. 2012. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40th_United_States_Congress>.
"Miller Center." American President: Andrew Johnson. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://millercenter.org/president/johnson>.
"39th United States Congress." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Mar. 2012. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/39th_United_States_Congress>.